Effect of activator nature on the impact behaviour of Alkali-Activated slag mortar

Cement is the main binding material for many military and civilian applications. The response of cement-based materials to kinetic energy, transferred by impact loads, always had attracted researchers working in the protective structures field. As an immerging binding material, alkali-activated material responses to different types of loads, especially dynamic loads, have to be studied. In this study, the effects of activator nature (i.e. silicate modulus (M-s) and sodium oxide dosage (Na2O%)) on the impact performance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) was investigated. Initially, fresh and hardened properties were evaluated for mixtures with various Ms and Na2O% values to ensure adequality. The impact absorption assessment was performed using a drop weight test. Results show that AAS exhibited up to 70% and 40% better compressive and tensile strength compared to that of the OPC, respectively. For impact energy absorption, AAS mixtures were obviously better than that of the conventional cement-based materials. The relationship between the static and dynamic performance of AAS is not similar to that in cement-based materials. Deformations and energy absorptions of AAS under impact loads are significantly affected by activator nature. Increasing the Modulus up to 1.5 resulted in about 75% enhancement in the impact energy absorption comparing to that of M-s = 1. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.